Nurlan Abdirov met with the Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election 

Observation Mission

On March 27, Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nurlan Abdirov met with Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Observation Mission for the early elections of Mazhilis Members to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Eoghan Murphy.

The meeting was attended by members of the Central Election Commission and senior officials of the CEC administration.

During the meeting, the Head of the Central Election Commission thanked Eoghan Murphy for accepting the invitation and sending short-term and long-term observers.

In total, 410 observers received accreditation from the OSCE/ODIHR Mission and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly at the CEC of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Of these, 350 people observed the elections in all 17 regions and 3 cities of republican significance. The election commissions created all conditions for the work of observers. On the threshold of the elections, during trips to the regions of the country, numerous meetings of CEC members with observers took place.

The head of the Central Election Commission informed about the results of the early elections to the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and stressed that the electoral campaign was highly competitive, aroused great public interest, and attracted an unprecedented number of national and foreign observers and media representatives.

Nurlan Abdirov expressed confidence in the need to expand cooperation with the OSCE/ODIHR.

In turn, Eoghan Murphy noted the importance of the past elections and emphasised the role and importance of the CEC, “Congratulations on the work done for the organising the elections, there were many difficult novelties and changes that required the necessary administration, which was effective.” Words of gratitude were also expressed for assistance in organising the activities of observers.

It was reported that the OSCE/ODIHR Mission will prepare two separate final reports – on the observation of the early presidential elections and the elections of Mazhilis Members to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Moreover, after the publication of the report on the observation of the parliamentary elections, Mr. Murphy expressed his intention to arrive in Kazakhstan with a group of experts for its presentation and substantive discussion with the Central Election Commission and interested state bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In turn, Nurlan Abdirov expressed readiness to accept the proposal and stressed that the Central Election Commission attaches great importance to continuing a constructive dialogue with the ODIHR, including in the period between electoral campaigns. The final reports of the mission will be discussed at meetings of the Expert Council at the CEC of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

He also informed the Head of Mission about the measures taken by the election commissions, including the prompt consideration of citizens’ appeals and complaints on the election day, the measures taken on the facts of individual violations.

At the end of the meeting, Nurlan Abdirov expressed gratitude to the Head and members of the OSCE/ODIHR Mission for the work done, and also noted that the Kazakh side would study all the recommendations of the Mission in the Final Reports on the past elections and confirmed intention to continue the dialogue on the principles of openness and constructive cooperation between the CEC and the ODIHR Mission on topical issues.